Exhaust system isolator mount with anti-rotation feature

Abstract

An isolator mount for supporting an exhaust component on a vehicle body via a hanger. The isolator mount includes an isolator element, isolator bracket, and clevis bracket. The isolator element has an aperture for receiving a portion of the hanger and dampens vibrations. The isolator bracket extends at least partially about and supports the isolator element and further includes a neck portion. The clevis bracket has a first half and a second half that are secured to the neck portion of the isolator bracket with a fastener that extends along a longitudinal axis. The first half of the clevis bracket and the neck portion of the isolator bracket include an anti-rotation feature in the form of a key-way slot and a key that is received in the key-way slot to prevent rotation of the isolator bracket relative to the clevis bracket about the longitudinal axis of the fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An isolator mount for supporting an exhaust component on a body portion of a vehicle via a hanger, the isolator mounting apparatus comprising:
 an elastomeric isolator element having an aperture for receiving a portion of the hanger; 
 an isolator bracket extending at least partially about and supporting the elastomeric isolator element, the isolator bracket including a neck portion extending therefrom; and 
 a clevis bracket including a first half and a second half, at least one of the first half and the second half of the clevis bracket being secured to the neck portion of the isolator bracket with a fastener extending along a longitudinal axis, 
 wherein the first half of the clevis bracket and the neck portion of the isolator bracket include an anti-rotation feature in the form of a key-way slot and a key that is received in the key-way slot to prevent rotation of the isolator bracket relative to the clevis bracket, wherein the second half of the clevis bracket includes a bore through which the fastener extends. 
 
     
     
       2. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the aperture of the elastomeric isolator element defines a hanger axis, the longitudinal axis and the hanger axis extending perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
       3. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion of the isolator bracket includes a passageway that receives the fastener, the passageway being aligned with the bore in the second half of the clevis bracket. 
     
     
       4. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the key-way slot is positioned in the first half of the clevis bracket, wherein the key-way slot is aligned with the passageway in the neck portion of the isolator bracket and receives the fastener, and wherein the key extends outwardly from the neck portion of the isolator bracket and is received in the key-way slot in the first half of the clevis bracket to prevent rotation. 
     
     
       5. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the key-way slot in the first half of the clevis bracket has a constant width and wherein the fastener includes a clamping surface that is wider than the constant width of the key-way slot such that the clamping surface of the fastener bears against the first half of the clevis bracket adjacent to the key-way slot when the fastener is tightened. 
     
     
       6. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the key-way slot in the first half of the clevis bracket has a first segment having a first width and a second segment having a second width that is larger than the first width, wherein the key is received in the first segment of the key-way slot and the fastener is received in the second segment of the key-way slot, and wherein the fastener includes a clamping surface that is narrower than the second width of the second segment of the key-way slot such that the clamping surface of the fastener bears against the neck portion of the isolator bracket when the fastener is tightened. 
     
     
       7. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the key-way slot is positioned in the neck portion of the isolator bracket, wherein the first half of the clevis bracket includes an opening that is aligned with the passageway in the neck portion of the isolator bracket and that receives the fastener, and wherein the key extends inwardly from the first half of the clevis bracket and is received in the key-way slot in the neck portion of the isolator bracket to prevent rotation. 
     
     
       8. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the passageway has a cross-section that is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener such that the isolator bracket is permitted to slide relative to the fastener a limited distance and move telescopically relative to the clevis bracket. 
     
     
       9. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a threaded shank that threadably engages a nut adjacent to the second half of the clevis bracket. 
     
     
       10. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the isolator bracket includes a hoop portion that extends from the neck portion and that circumscribes the elastomeric clevis element. 
     
     
       11. An isolator mount for supporting an exhaust component on a body portion of a vehicle via a hanger, the isolator mounting apparatus comprising:
 an elastomeric isolator element having an aperture for receiving a portion of the hanger; 
 an isolator bracket extending at least partially about and supporting the elastomeric isolator element, the isolator bracket including a neck portion extending therefrom; and 
 a clevis bracket including a first half and a second half, at least one of the first half and the second half of the clevis bracket being secured to the neck portion of the isolator bracket with a fastener extending along a longitudinal axis, 
 wherein the first half of the clevis bracket and the neck portion of the isolator bracket include an anti-rotation feature in the form of a key-way slot and a key that is received in the key-way slot to prevent rotation of the isolator bracket relative to the clevis bracket, wherein the first half of the clevis bracket has a first transverse wall through which the fastener extends and first and second longitudinal walls that extend from the first transverse wall towards the second half of the clevis bracket and wherein the second half of the clevis bracket has a second transverse wall through which the fastener extends and third and fourth longitudinal walls that extend from the second transverse wall towards the first half of the clevis bracket. 
 
     
     
       12. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the first longitudinal wall of the first half of the clevis bracket at least partially overlaps with the third longitudinal wall of the second half of the clevis bracket and the second longitudinal wall of the first half of the clevis bracket at least partially overlaps with the fourth longitudinal wall of the second half of the clevis bracket such that the first half and the second half of the clevis bracket cooperate to circumscribe the neck portion of the isolator bracket in a clamshell arrangement. 
     
     
       13. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the exhaust component is adapted to carry exhaust along an exhaust flow axis, the exhaust flow axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       14. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the first transverse wall of the first half of the clevis bracket and the second transverse wall of the second half of the clevis bracket are shaped as an acute isosceles trapezoid and have a lower edge that is configured to be welded to the exhaust component in a direction that is parallel to the exhaust flow axis. 
     
     
       15. An isolator mount for supporting an exhaust component on a body portion of a vehicle, the isolator mounting apparatus comprising:
 an isolator bracket including a neck portion extending therefrom; and 
 a clevis bracket including a first half and a second half, at least one of the first half and the second half of the clevis bracket being secured to the neck portion of the isolator bracket with a fastener extending along a longitudinal axis, 
 wherein the first half of the clevis bracket and the neck portion of the isolator bracket include an anti-rotation feature in the form of a key-way slot and a key that is received in the key-way slot to prevent rotation of the isolator bracket relative to the clevis bracket about the longitudinal axis of the fastener, the first half of the clevis bracket partially overlapping the second half of the clevis bracket. 
 
     
     
       16. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the key-way slot is positioned in the first half of the clevis bracket and receives the fastener and wherein the key extends outwardly from the neck portion of the isolator bracket and is received in the key-way slot in the first half of the clevis bracket to prevent rotation. 
     
     
       17. The isolator mount as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the neck portion of the isolator bracket includes a passageway that receives the fastener, the passageway having a cross-section that is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener such that the isolator bracket is permitted to slide relative to the fastener a limited distance and move telescopically relative to the clevis bracket. 
     
     
       18. An isolator mount for supporting an exhaust component on a body portion of a vehicle, the isolator mounting apparatus comprising:
 an isolator bracket including a neck portion extending therefrom; and 
 a clevis bracket including a first half and a second half, at least one of the first half and the second half of the clevis bracket being secured to the neck portion of the isolator bracket with a fastener extending along a longitudinal axis, 
 wherein the first half of the clevis bracket and the neck portion of the isolator bracket include an anti-rotation feature in the form of a key-way slot and a key that is received in the key-way slot to prevent rotation of the isolator bracket relative to the clevis bracket about the longitudinal axis of the fastener, wherein the key-way slot is positioned in the neck portion of the isolator bracket and wherein the key extends inwardly from the first half of the clevis bracket and is received in the key-way slot in the neck portion of the isolator bracket to prevent rotation. 
 
     
     
       19. An isolator mount for supporting an exhaust component on a body portion of a vehicle via a hanger, the isolator mounting apparatus comprising:
 an isolator bracket including a neck portion and a hoop portion extending from the neck portion; 
 an isolator element mounted in the hoop portion of the isolator bracket, the isolator element having at least one aperture for receiving a portion of the hanger and being made of a material that dampens vibrations between the hanger and the isolator bracket; and 
 a clevis bracket including a first half and a second half, at least one of the first half and the second half of the clevis bracket being secured to the neck portion of the isolator bracket with a fastener extending along a longitudinal axis, 
 wherein the first half of the clevis bracket and the neck portion of the isolator bracket include an anti-rotation feature in the form of a key-way slot and a key that is received in the key-way slot to prevent rotation of the isolator bracket relative to the clevis bracket about the longitudinal axis of the fastener, wherein the neck portion of the isolator bracket includes an elongated passageway in receipt of the fastener such that the isolator bracket is permitted to slide relative to the fastener a limited distance and move telescopically relative to the clevis bracket.